First frost flowers of 2012

I was delighted to discover my first frost flowers of the season on dittany plants (Cunila origanoides) on November 13, 14, and 15. Our nighttime temperatures were in the mid 20s and were the lowest we’ve had this fall. I was thrilled to find these ice sculptures in our backyard for the first time last year (Frost flowers and Frost flowers #2). Seeing them again this year suggests that their occurrence is somewhat predictable.

I continue to marvel at the beauty and unique shapes of the ephemeral ice crystals that form as the sap comes thru the stem of the plant and is frozen. Cropping the photograph allows me to see more details.

Whenever the ground is not frozen and the temperature gets below freezing, I’ll be watching for these exquisite miniature ice sculptures. It will be fun to see how long they will continue to appear.

5 thoughts on “First frost flowers of 2012”

Thanks, Judy. I like your metaphor. I can vouch from experience that it doesn’t taste like candy but is a thin, crunchy ice that melts very quickly when eaten. As kids, we thought it was quite a treat.